To reduce its dropout rate, Ohio County Schools in Wheeling, West Virginia implemented a multifaceted, sequential intervention plan. Its success indicates that direct, personal, immediate, and caring communication with parents and students remains the most effective and least costly way to link home with school. (Author/LHW)

Since school dropouts who receive the General Education Diploma are discriminated against because they do not possess a standard high school diploma, a plan is presented that recognizes such discrimination and provides a process for making standard diplomas available to dropouts in special education and general categories of intelligence. (MH)

The Leaving School Early (LSE) Program, established in 1975, is designed for 14- and 15-year-olds who find none of the public school programs suitable. Applicants are assessed by a social worker and an individualized work or education contract written. LSE participants are monitored by teacher advisors. (SJL)

Describes Project Kid-Save, a program designed by Arizona's Monument Valley High School to provide a safety net for failing students and to support adoption of the North Central Association's outcomes accreditation approach. Reviews the program's five components and evaluates the relative success of each. (11 citations) (MAB)

Discusses the efforts of Malawi to "vocationalize" general academic education to help alleviate the unemployment problems of secondary school leavers. Given the costs of vocational education and the number of unmet basic human needs in the country, concludes that vocational training should be left to specialist institutions outside…

Describes the Portable Assisted Study Sequence (PASS) program, a coordinated national effort to help migrant students complete their education. Provides information on the following: (1) when PASS can be taken; (2) how it operates; (3) what PASS courses are available; (4) what comprises a PASS packet; (5) how credits are awarded; and (6) program…

Temple-Inland Partnership in Schools (T.I.P.S.) is a pilot partnership between a rural Texas industry and school district intended to help prevent dropouts through tutoring and counseling. The goal is to help students develop skills, confidence, and pride in attaining an education and earning a high school diploma. (SM)

Behavior problems demanding severe disciplinary actions are disruptive, eroding forces in classrooms. Effective group guidance programs have students keep track of concerns, problems, or difficulties encountered. The Problem Tracker, allowing students to record stressful or problematic situations, provides a buffer permitting more thoughtful…

Outcomes of the Performance-Based Diploma (BPD) Program, a program implemented at a high school in the southeast United States, are described in this paper. The basic elements for success are people, program design, and product. Staff function on the belief that teachers exist to meet students' needs. The program includes the following components:…

This paper describes 15 dropout retrieval programs that have components with potential for helping migrant dropout youth return to an educational program. Each profile contains information on eligibility, identification or recruitment method, funding, services, and contacts. In addition, each program is categorized as to type of sponsoring…

A California Partnership Academy is a voluntary school-within-a-school program for at-risk high school students. The program is based on a partnership between a school district, local employers, and the California Department of Education. The following special features are outlined: (1) close partnership between the school and employers; (2) block…

The Comprehensive Dropout Prevention Plan utilizes the resources of Broward County public schools and the community for dropout prevention. A matrix of dropout prevention options has been assembled from both existing programs and from new program designs. General components of the plan include the following: (1) dropout retrieval activities; (2)…

The Portland School District addresses the dropout problem through programs which fall into the following categories: (1) keeping students engaged in meaningful learning according to their needs, and counseling if necessary, (2) placing students appropriately; (3) monitoring their performance and (4) intervening to prevent and recover dropouts.…

This report discusses the situation--a 43 percent attrition rate in public schools--leading to the formation of the Dropout Prevention and Recovery (DPR) program, implemented in the Los Angeles Unified School District in January 1985, and describes activities undertaken as part of the pilot program. The main body of the report, presented in…

During the 1984-1985 school year, a pilot dropout outreach program was instituted by the Los Angeles (California) Unified School District's Division of Adult and Occupational Education in cooperation with the senior high schools division. Dropouts from the 1983-1984 school year were identified and were sent personal letters inviting them to return…